Skip to main content
T
tony brown films
Known Participant
May 3, 2026
Answered

Since cancelling LRc subscription I cannot open LR at all even though I'm still signed in. How do I gain access to my catalog/Library.

  • May 3, 2026
  • 4 replies
  • 114 views

Since cancelling LRc subscription I cannot open LR at all even though I'm still signed in. How do I gain access to my catalog/Library.

    Correct answer richardplondon

    To clarify: “Lightroom” (often abbreviated to ”Lr”) IS the cloud centric option. This gives you the option of working in a mobile device, or in the web browser, or in a desktop installed application. This last is usually called the “Lightroom desktop app” because it is a desktop interface for accessing your “Lightroom” image library, which as above: lives in the cloud and stores its files there.

     

    The product called “Lightroom Classic” (abbreviated often to LrC) employs a locally stored Catalog instead. It can optionally sync albums of  images into the cloud or not, but its file storage and all of its functions operate completely within your local computer.

     

    As has been explained, there are two ways to start LrC. If you have an active Creative Cloud plan you can open it from there. But also, this is a standard installed application and you can use your Windows or Mac normal means of opening this. Provided it has not been uninstalled.

     

    Also: provided you have in fact been using Lightroom Classic up to now - and not (you would not be the first person!) installed and used the Lightroom.Desktop App under the mistaken impression that this was Lightroom Classic. 

     

    In the case of Windows, assuming LrC,  you can look in your Start menu - you may need to open all apps. Once you have found it, you can right-click and choose Pin to Taskbar or else Pin to Start. Sometimes you may need to go into ‘show more options’ in the right-click menu to see these options. That will create a clickable icon for starting LrC. MacOS will I expect be equivalent but different - someone else would have to advise on that. 

    4 replies

    R
    Community Expert
    richardplondonCommunity Expert
    Community Expert
    May 4, 2026

    In this question - “LRc” and “LR” are both mentioned. I will assume that difference was deliberate. 

     

    There is no subscription plan which gives you only Lightroom Classic. That always comes together with Lightroom in a bundle. Therefore if you cancel the subscription which gives you Lightroom Classic you lose that whole bundle, including use of the Lightroom cloud based ecosystem. The Lightroom ‘desktop app’ as well, which depends on that ecosystem - until you resume, or take up a different subscription plan which continues Lightroom on its own (without including Classic).

     

    What happens to your cloud-held Lightroom image library (once you cease paying for the storage it takes up) I don’t know, but I would hope there is some grace period during which you can download the data or else resume one or another subscription plan.

     

    Lightroom Classic by contrast can still open even after ceasing subscription, but usage of the application and the locally stored Catalog is in that case restricted. You can still work in Library with the images you have already got imported, including exporting and printing those, but you cannot open the Develop module nor import any further images (for example). In other words: everything is still available but in a ‘mothballed’ state.

     

    If you later resume a subscription that includes Classic, normal full Catalog functions return. 

    In the same situation: until you resume subscription, Lightroom denies you access altogether. 

      T
      tony brown filmsAuthor
      Known Participant
      May 4, 2026

      I've never had the cloud version. Only the LR desktop which came with Photoshop which I never used.

       

      R
      Community Expert
      richardplondonCommunity ExpertCorrect answer
      Community Expert
      May 5, 2026

      To clarify: “Lightroom” (often abbreviated to ”Lr”) IS the cloud centric option. This gives you the option of working in a mobile device, or in the web browser, or in a desktop installed application. This last is usually called the “Lightroom desktop app” because it is a desktop interface for accessing your “Lightroom” image library, which as above: lives in the cloud and stores its files there.

       

      The product called “Lightroom Classic” (abbreviated often to LrC) employs a locally stored Catalog instead. It can optionally sync albums of  images into the cloud or not, but its file storage and all of its functions operate completely within your local computer.

       

      As has been explained, there are two ways to start LrC. If you have an active Creative Cloud plan you can open it from there. But also, this is a standard installed application and you can use your Windows or Mac normal means of opening this. Provided it has not been uninstalled.

       

      Also: provided you have in fact been using Lightroom Classic up to now - and not (you would not be the first person!) installed and used the Lightroom.Desktop App under the mistaken impression that this was Lightroom Classic. 

       

      In the case of Windows, assuming LrC,  you can look in your Start menu - you may need to open all apps. Once you have found it, you can right-click and choose Pin to Taskbar or else Pin to Start. Sometimes you may need to go into ‘show more options’ in the right-click menu to see these options. That will create a clickable icon for starting LrC. MacOS will I expect be equivalent but different - someone else would have to advise on that. 

      Jim Wilde
      Community Expert
      Jim WildeCommunity Expert
      Community Expert
      May 4, 2026

      If you’ve cancelled your subscription, then it’s seem logical to me that trying to access the app via the Creative Cloud app would result in that “Try or Buy” message.

      Instead, have you tried launching LrC directly by clicking on the Dock/Taskbar icon? If you haven’t setup that LrC icon, locate the application executable and double-click on that to launch LrC, which should then open in the reduced functionality mode.

      T
      tony brown filmsAuthor
      Known Participant
      May 4, 2026

      If I can no longer open the program how do I set up an icon on the taskbar?

      dj_paige
      dj_paige
      Legend
      May 4, 2026

      If the Lightroom Classic program is still installed on your computer, you can always find the .exe file (assuming you are on Windows) and double-click on that to open it. You can also set up icons on your desktop or taskbar.

      T
      tony brown filmsAuthor
      Known Participant
      May 4, 2026

      Sorry yes....I found the forum very confusing. Comments noted, thank you.

      I'm attempting to open LRc from the icon displayed in Creative Cloud as I've always done. The icon sometimes has a padlock on it and is unresponsive so until this morning would not open at all.

      Today it does not show the padlock, however when click it gives only 2 options, Free trial or buy.

      I require neither.

      dj_paige
      dj_paige
      Legend
      May 4, 2026

      What happens if you try to open from the LrC icon on your desktop by double-clicking on it?

      T
      tony brown filmsAuthor
      Known Participant
      May 4, 2026

      I've never had a desktop icon. Only for Creative Cloud.

      dj_paige
      dj_paige
      Legend
      May 3, 2026

      Since cancelling LRc subscription I cannot open LR at all

       

      Please clarify this. Do you mean you cannot open LrC at all?

       

      If so, please tell us, step-by-step, how you are trying to open LrC, and describe in detail what happens next. If you see an error message, please quote the exact unedited word-for-word error message.

       

      Also, the new forum confuses a lot of people. It is poorly designed. When you post a message, the first dialog box should be the title (even though it doesn’t say that), a few words. The next dialog box should contain a detailed problem description. We don’t need the same text twice.

      Terms & ConditionsAccessibility statement
      Using the community Terms of use Privacy Cookie preferences Do not sell or share my personal information ad choicesAdChoices